Iron Foundry.

Progress, Volume IV, Issue 6, 1 April 1909, Page 195

Iron Foundry.

In the iron foundry is a new vibrating table moulding machine, operated by compressed air ; this machine is used principally for brake.

The machines are interesting to watch as they stand in their long lines at work, each with its watchful directing controlling attendant. Powerful elephants one might say, like those in the Burmese timber yards, each with his "Mahout" beside him. These are not as the machines of old, slow as well as steady. On the contrary they show the last thing in pace without diminishing the old fashioned steadiness. There is notably a turret lathe from the workshops of Herbert of Coventry, hollow spindled, with 16 reversible speeds, the very latest thing in turret lathes whether in Europe or America, working when necessary up to speeds inconceivable to the non-expert mind. There is a circular saw which cuts thick iron with the smoothness and rapidity one sees in the case of wood that is dealt with by similar tools. There are emery grinders and Sundale grinders, drills radial and drills fixed, the former really wonderful machines reaching out in a circle when called upon, liberated or fixed at will by the turn of a nut, driving great

cutters through the toughest metal with rare pace. There are screwing machines and lathes, of all kinds, up to the great fellows required for dealing with locomotive driving wheels, and we recognise the work of Beyer, Peacock and Co., of Manchester — none better anywhere. Among the drillers is a fine Canadian machine (Esquith, of Halifax) very rapid and reliable, and it is among the up-to-date machines of the establishment. There are milling machines too; one catches the attention quickly with its knives arranged exactly like those of a lawn mower; the shavings thrown off are small and wiry, just like grass cut by the blades of its prototype ; and the analogy is complete, as you read the name of Kendall and Gent, of Manchester. For all these the work is brought and taken away by hydraulic hoist and travelling gantry easily handled. In various parts of the Shops are erected pneumatic air hoists and air-lifts in lieu of the old style of chain blocks,

whereby a great saving in time and energy is effected. A small shunting engine of the C type is kept constantly employed in and around the Workshops. There is also a 7-ton steam self-propelling crane in Workshops yard, built at Railway Workshops, Hillside.